Ice freezing mold



Dec. 24, 1940. R M STQRER 2,226,184

ICE FREEZING MOLD Filed July 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARDM. arc/ans? I ATTORNEY.

Dec. 24,1940; R. M. STORER ICE FREEZING MOLD Filed July 6, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR. H/1P0 7- STORE P Patented Dec. 24; 1940PATENT OFFICE ICE FREEZING MOLD I Richard M. Storer, Denver, Colo.Application July 6, 1937, Serial No. 152,116

15 Claims.

. This invention relates to improvements in'grids for ice trays inmechanical refrigerators.

The removal of ice bodies from a grid and harvesting of ice bodiestherefrom. v

Another object of the invention is the pro-.

vision of a grid design wherein the component Parts may be readilyassembled, afterfabrication, to their operating positions.

for an ice tray, whereby ice bodies may be loosened fromth''tray andfrom the grid surfaces, while retaining the grid in the tray.

A still further object is to provide a device of this kind that willhave a minimum probability of breakage of'the ice during its removaltherefrom.

Other objects and advantages. will be more fully disclosed in thefollowing description and in the drawings wherein like parts have beensimilarly designated and in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of, the improved grid assembly in a freezingtray;

I Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof taken approximately on theline 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another longitudinal section showing the grid in itsoperative position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of the grid.

assembly; q

3 5 Figure 5 is a mathematical diagrammatic representation of forcesinvolved in the operation of the improved grid;

Figure'6 is a fragmentary detail of the pivoted end of the leverelement;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a freezing moldbuilt according to a modifiedform of the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are cross sectional views illustrating modified forms oftransverse members which are suitable for use in the present invention;and

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a furthermodified arrangement.

In the drawings reference character l2 denote an ice tray of the usualtype in which is a grid assembly [3 for the purpose of shaping aplurality of bodies of ice or the like that are frozen in the tray. Thegrid assembly comprises a central longitudinal wall member it abovewhicl" is 55 a relatively movable longitudinal member I 5 that A furtherobject is to providea grid elementis connected by means of togglelinkage I6 to a lever handle ll that is pivoted at I8 to an upturned endI9 integral with the longitudinal member H. I

At spaced intervals along the lower edge of the longitudinal wall memberI is a series of notches 20, each of which has a side cut-out 2.0a.Along the upper edge of the movable longitu-- dinal member i5 is aseries of notches 2| which,

in the form illustrated in Figure 2, are progres- 1o sively widened fromright to left, as shown. A series of curved transverse wall members 22embrace the two longitudinal members and are positioned in therespective notches, the upper edge of each transverse member beingpositioned in one of the notches in longitudinal member l5 and the loweredge of each transverse member being positioned in one of the notches inthe lower longitudinal member 14.

Figure 4 illustrates the mode of assembly of 20 the transverse membersonto the longitudinal members wherein itwill be observed that the curvedtransverse members 22 each has a central slot through which the lowerlongitudinal member I4 is first passed to a position where the g5transverse member 22 may be raised in one of the notches 20 to theposition shown. In this position the movable longitudinal member I5 maybe also inserted through the slot until one of the notches 2| therein isin alinement with the trans- 3o verse member whereupon the transversemember may be lowered to its normal operative position as shown inFigures 2' and 3. In their operative positions the transverse membersnormally engage the side cut-out 20a in the lower longitudinal member.

Attached to the handle member I! and in alinement with the longitudinalwall members is a relatively small wall section 23 which raises with thehandle, as shown in Figure 3, to provide space 0 into whiclr the uppermovable longitudinal member l5 may be moved by the same raising motionof the lever handle; through the intermediary of the linkage l6 as shownin Figure 3. -Due to the progressive widening of the notchesll in themovable longitudinal member, the respective transverse members will beprogressively rotated toward an upright position from their normalinclined position, since the narrower notches engage and start to movetheir respective transverse 5 members sooner than do the wider notchestoward the left end of the assembly.

It will be observed particularly in'Figures 1 and 2 that in the normalposition' for freezing ice bodies the lever-handle'member 11 is in itsdown-' ward substantially horizontal position and the movablelongitudinal member I5 is at its extreme left position and is so heldand locked by the toggle linkage I 6. In this position each 01 thetransverse curved wall members is inclined upwardly and to the left. Asthe handle lever I1 is raised about its pivot l8 the movablelongitudinal member I5 is moved toward the right and progressively actsupon the respective transverse wall members to rotate them upwardly andto the right toward a substantially upright position.

A particular advantage is efiected by having the movable transverse wallmembers curved in their cross sectional shape as shown in Figures 2, 3and 4. A mathematical diagrammatic representation of the direction offorces employed in the operation of the improved grid to loosen bodiesof ice from the tray and from the wall members of the grid, is shown inFigure 5 wherein the direction of the force applied to the transversewall members through the intermediary of the movable longitudinal memberI5 is shown by the arrow H5. A curved transverse wall member isrepresented at- I22 and for the sake of comparison a straight transversewall member having a similar inclination is shown at 24.

It is to be understood that the transverse wall members as shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 are loosely held in their supporting notches and theyare arranged in such a manner that when they are acted upon by themovable longitudinal member I5 they rotate about their lowermost edges20a. as axes. In the diagram this axis of rotation is represented byreference character I22a and it will be seen that a'force applied in thedirection of arrow I I5 to a member mounted for angular movement aboutthe axis I22a, will be converted into a moment of force acting upon themovable members I22 and 24 which become lever arms and are rotated aboutthe axis I22a.

The movable longitudinal member I5 serves as a connecting rod totransmit the-movement of the leverage mechanism to the transverse wallmembers and the longitudinal movement of the member I5 is converted intoangular movement of the transverse members.

In the diagram the direction of the moments of force acting to rotatethe hypothetical members I22 and 24 is graphically shown as follows: Aradius 25 is drawn from the axis I22a through a point 26 whichls commonto both the straight and curved rotative members. Since a moment offorce acting upon a lever arm acts in a direction that is perpendicularto the arm the arrows 21 are parallel and graphically represent thedirection of the moments of force acting upon the straight rotativemember 24. Other radii 28, 29 and 30 are drawn from the center I22athrough various points on the curved rotative member I22. The moments offorce acting upon the member I22 are graphically illustrated by arrows3| which are,perpendicular to the respective radii '28, 29 and '30 whichtruly represent the effective lever arms at their respective pointscligzintersection with the curved rotative member It is obvious that thearrows 3| have a greater upward component of direction from thehorizontal 32 than do the arrows 21. It is further obvious that thelowermost arrow 3| has a greater upward component than the uppermostarrow 3|. The advantage of a curved transverse grid wall member inlifting ice bodies from the bottom of an icetray as compared with thesimilar function of a straight transverse member, is thus clearlyproven.

The entire grid assembly I3 is removable from the tray I2. However, dueto the lifting action of the curved inclined transverse members, icebodies may be readily separated from the bottom of the tray and from thewalls of the grid by the operation of the lever handle [1 while the gridassembly remains in the tray. The longitudinal members I4 and I5 are insuperposed relation and together serve as a central wall member of thegrid, forming an inner end for each individual ice compartment, but itwill be readily understood that any connecting member that is arrangedto transmit force to the transverse members to rotate them from theirnormal inclined position toward an upright position, would serve thepurpose. In this type of grid it is unnecessary to apply any mechanicalforce against the tray other than through the intermediary of the icebodies themselves as the lifting forces are applied thereto as explainedabove.

A further advantage in the curved shape of the transverse wall membersresides in the fact that an ice body being lifted from the tray bottomby angular movement of the transverse members, slides upwardly along thecurved surfaces more readily than it would along a straight surface.Still another advantage in the curved grid members over similarlyinclined straight grid members resides in the fact that at the uppersurfaces of the ice bodies the angle formed between the cross membersthat are curved is greater than the angle that would be formed betweenthe upper surface of the ice and a similarly inclined straight crossmember. This gives greater strength in the ice body to resist chippingand breaking adjacent its upper surface, as the dislodging forces. areapplied to the ice.

The cross-sectional shape of the respective transverse walls is shown asconcave-convex, the

concave faces being upward and forward in. their normal freezingposition. However, similar lifting forces could beapplied to an ice bodyby other types of cross walls that have a concave inclined surfacefacing the direction of rotation.

The portion of the lever adjacent the pivoted end is downwardly widenedto such an extent that it may be frozen into the ice. To facilitate itseasy separation from the ice, this part of the lever is tapereddownwardly as shown in Figure 6.

A relatively small aperture ll] is located through the longitudinal wallI4 adjacent the rear end thereof, to facilitate loosening of the icebodies formed at the rear of the tray since there Is no movable crosswall back of them to act thereon. When the entire grid element is movedwith reference to the tray, the neck of ice that extends through theaperture, pulls the adjacent ice bodies free from the tray. After thisoperation, the respective ice bodies may easily be broken from the smallneck of ice that connects them through the aperture. I.

In the modified form illustrated in Figure '7, a lever arm I'Ia hasanextended right end I'|b that bears upon the tray-rim I20. when thehandle portion of the lever is rotated upwardly. This action will raisethe entire grid assembly with reference to the tray bottom.

It will be noted that in this form the curved tarnsverse grid walls arenormally in a substantially-vertical position and the combined eifectsof the raising of the grid assembly as a whole and the angular movementof the individual trans- .above described, with the exception that theyverse walls, will raise and loosen the ice bodies from all contactingsurfaces. It is to be understood that the operating mechanism in theform shown in Figure '7 is similar to that herelnabove described. InFigure 8 a type of cross wall grid member is illustrated which has oneside straight and the other side concave.

The transverse wall member illustrated in Figure 9 has both sidesconcave. Under certain conditions, cross walls having the crosssectional shape illustrated in Figure .8 or the one illustrated inFigure 9, may be desirable.

The component; parts of the assembly illustrated in Figure 10 aresimilar to the ones hereincurved transverse wall members are reversed intheir positions' so that they are convex on the sides thereof that arepositioned toward the direction of their ice-dislodging movements. Inthis arrangement a favorable sliding movement of the cross wall membersagainst their respective ice bodies, is effected. It is to be understoodthat either type of lever arm may be 'used with any of the cross wallmembers that have been disclosed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A freezing mold comprising a tray, and a cell-forming grid elementtherein consisting of a longitudinal wall, a plurality of inclinedconcave walls transverse to the longitudinal wall and positioned forangular movement relativethereto and held in spaced relation to eachother by the longitudinal wall, an actuating member connecting thetransverse walls, and mechanism on the grid element for impartingangular movement to the transverse walls through the intermediary oftheir actuating member.

2. In a freezing mold, a tray, an inclined concave wall member mountedfor angular movement relative to. the tray, and mechanism operativelyconnected with the wall to rotate it toward an upright position todislodge ice on the concave side thereof.

3. A cell-forming grid for an ice tray, comprising a longitudinal wall,a plurality of concave inclined walls transverse to said longitudinalwall and positioned in spaced relation along the longitudinal wall, anactuating member connecting the transverse walls,.and mechanism on thegrid peratively connected with the actuating member to rotate thetransverse walls relative to the tray in ice-dislodging movement.

4. A cell-forming grid for an ice tray, comprising a longitudinalwall, aplurality-of concavoconvex inclined walls transverse to saidlongitudinal wall and positioned in spaced relation along thelongitudinal wall, an actuating member connectingv the transverse walls,and mechanism on'the grid operatively connected with the actuatingmember to rotate the transverse walls rela- ,tive to the tray inice-dislodging movement.

5. The method of assembling two superposed parallel members through atransverse wall to form a freezing grid or the like which consists informing a houldered notch in an edge of one of the parallel members,providing a slot through the transverse wall, forming a notch in an edgeof the other parallel member, passing the member having the shoulderednotch through the slot and engaging an 'inner edge of said slot in thenotch, passing the other parallel member through the slot, engagingan'opposite edge of the slot in the notch of the last said member, thedistance between said notches being less than the vlength of the slotand the distance from the shoulder to the nearest point of the oppositenotch being approximately equal to the length of the slot, and engagingan edge of the slot in the shouldered position of the notch in the othermember for loosely holding the assembly in its working arrangement.

6. In a grid for an ice tray, a longitudinal wall member, a rotatableconcave-convex wall transverse thereto, and means for rotating thetransverse wall in the direction of its concave face and relative tosaid longitudinal wall.

7. In a grid for 'an ice tray, a longitudinal wall member, a rotatableconvex walltransverse thereto, and means for rotating thetransverse-wall in thedirection of its convex face and relative to saidlongitudinal wall. I

8. Ina device of the character described, a mold-element comprising alengthwise member and a crosswise member mounted thereon for angularmovement relative thereto to impart ice adhering thereto during saidmovement.

10. In a device of the character described, a mold-element comprising alengthwise member and a crosswise member mounted thereon for angularmovement relative thereto to impart icedislodging movement to matterfrozen in the mold, the crosswise member having an ice-engaging sidecurved to impart a component of force to ice adhering thereto in adirection other than the direction of the angular movement of suchmember.

.11. The combination with a tray, and a mold in the tray defining aplurality of compartments for matter frozen in the tray, the mold beingcomposed of a longitudinal member and transverse members of curvedsection movably mounted to impart angular movement to frozen matter inthe compartments relative to the tray, the curvature of said membersbeing effective for imparting a component of force in a direction otherthan the direction'of the angular movement thereof, and mechanism inoperative connection with the transverse members for initiating theangular movement thereof.

12. The improvement in molds for freezing trays in which one or moreslotted members are movably mounted in a crosswise position onalengthwise" member having upper and lower cooperative notches againstwhich the slotted surface of the crosswise member-bears, which comprisesa recess disposed at a side of one of said cooperative notches toprovide a shoulder, the distance from the shoulder to the nearest pointof the other cooperative notch being approximately equal to the lengthof the slot in the cross-member, whereby engagement of the slottedsurface with the shoulder will seat the crossmember against unauthorizedmovement in the opposing notch.

13. The improvement in molds for freezing trays in which one or moreslotted members are movably mounted in a crosswise position on alengthwise member having upper and lower 00- operative notches againstwhich the slotted surface of the crosswise member bears, which comprisesa recess disposed at a side of the lowermost notch to provide ashoulder, the distance from the shoulder to the nearest point of theuppermost notch being approximately equal to the length of the slot inthe cross-member, whereby engagement of the slotted surface with theshoulder will seat the cross-member against unauthorized movement in theuppermost notch.

14. In an ice-forming mold, a lengthwise wall member having a series ofcooperative notches in its upper and lower surfaces with the notches inthe upper surface facing upwardly and the notches in the lower surfacefacing downwardly, one'notch of each cooperative pair of notches beingshouldered, slotted transverse wall members mounted in cooperativenotches along the lengthwisemember for angular movement relative to theabutting shoulder of thenotch, said shoulders being positioned to engagethe respective movable transverse wall members during ice formation, andmeans for imparting said angular movement to the transverse wallmembers.

15. In an ice-forming mold, a lengthwise wall member having a series ofcooperativenotches in its upper and lower surfaces, one notch of eachcooperative pair of notches being shouldered, slotted transverse wallmembers mounted in cooperative notches along the lengthwise member forangular movement relative to the abutting shoulder of the notch, saidshoulders being positioned to engage the respective movable transversewall members during ice formation, and means for imparting said angularmovement to the transverse wall members.

RICHARD M. STORER.

